“One of the gifts of being a writer is that it

gives you an excuse to do things, to go places

and explore. Another is that writing motivates

Creative Writing Syllabus you to look closely at life, as it lurches and

tramps around”
-Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Mrs. Brianna Whitten
Room 017
859-289-3780 extension: 3137
brianna.whitten@nicholas.kyschools.us

Course Description
This course is designed to teach and enhance students’ creative writing skills. We
will read a variety of materials including (but not limited to) novels, drama, poetry,
short stories, and non-fiction. We will continually study the process of writing and
begin to read as writers. We will practice the skills we learn as writers and
produce various pieces throughout the year. We will publish these pieces in a
variety of ways; including our in class share time, school publications, contests,
literary magazines, local publications, etc. Students will be expected to publish
some of their pieces in order to pass this class. This success of this class and the
student is dependent on student’s participation both in reading literature, writing
pieces, and sharing pieces.

Grading Policy
Students’ notebooks will be collected periodically (bi-weekly first semester) and
graded for completion of entries. Students will also receive a grade for writing and
publishing the assigned pieces throughout the course of the year. The grade for
writing and publishing is a significant grade and it is imperative that students
complete the writing and participate in the publishing in order to pass the class.

Students in my class will be assessed on a points accumulated system. Students will

then be given a percentage grade based upon the total points they have
accumulated versus the total points possible those nine weeks. The school-wide
grading scale will then be used to determine a student’s grade.

Textbooks/Materials Needed
Students will be assigned a textbook, The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr.
and E.B. White, which must be brought to class every day as well as the Writer’s
Notebook (which may be kept in class). Students must also have the following
materials:

-1 three-ring binder with loose-leaf paper;

-1 package of 5 tab dividers
-blue or black ink pens, a highlighter; and
-1 Disk/CD/Jump drive
Classroom Expectations and Procedures

1) Maintain an attitude of courtesy, honor, and respect

a. Do not talk when others are talking.
b. No hats, no hair combs, no food or drinks (you may have water), and
no use of profanity or slang terms that are derogatory.
c. Follow the dress code.
d. No radios, walkmans, or cell phones. If I see these items, I take
them and turn them in to the office. READ YOUR HANDBOOK
REGARDING THESE ITEMS!
e. No sleeping in class; if you are sick, see me.
f. Don’t complain about the temperature of the room-dress
appropriately.
2) School Handbook rules are strictly enforced.
3) Be responsible
a. Keep up with your own materials and be responsible for your OWN
work. If you borrow a pencil from me, you must leave collateral.
b. Do not “pack up” materials until class is dismissed by ME. Bring all
materials to every class meeting.
4) My desk, refrigerator, microwave, etc., is off-limits - NO
exceptions.
5) You will receive three restroom passes per semester. Use them
Wisely - I keep a record of them. Use the restroom between classes
and this won’t be a problem. Of course, let me know if you are ill.
6) Do your best-always.

Attendance and Tardy Policy

My attendance and tardy policy directly coincides with the policy of Nicholas County
High School. It is very important that students are here for every class. We cover a
lot of material and take part in many group activities. If you are not here you may find
yourself buried under a literal ‘ton” of make-up work. Please see me in advance if you
know that you will be absent and we can make arrangements for your work.

Make-up Work (please read very carefully)

1) When a student is absent, that student will have the same number of days as
the absence to make up the daily work - NO LONGER. A student must also do
the work in the order it was assigned. Once the work is completed, he/she will
turn it in the appropriate make-up folder.
2) I will stay after school on Wednesdays until 4 p.m. to administer make-up
quizzes and tests; I do not allow those to be made up during school. Quizzes
and tests must be made up within two weeks of when they were assigned to the
 class. A student that is staying after must sign up according to the day he/she
is coming and list specifically the assignment(s) he/she is making up. If a
student is counted present for any school activity, which includes field trips,
and there is work due in class that day, it must be turned in THAT DAY or be
counted late.
3) If a student is absent on the date that paper is due to turn in and/or publish
(Best Piece Publishing Day), that student will be expected to turn in and/or
publish the piece on the day the student returns to class. If the absence is
unexcused, see policy above.
4) This policy is firm and will only change as I see necessary.

If I need to change the day I stay after school, I will give students several days’
notice. If a student needs to change the day in which he/she stays after school, I in
turn expect several days’ notice.
Parents:
Please read the above, then sign, and return the validation below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYLLABUS VALIDATION SLIP

We, the student and parent/guardian, have read the syllabus and are familiar with it.

Date ________________
Student Name (please print)_________________________________
Period___3rd____
Student Signature_____________________________________

Parent/Guardian (please print)________________________________

Parent or Guardian Signature__________________________________

Home Phone_____________________
Parent Work Phone________________
Parent Cell Phone_________________

Parent e-mail___________________________________

Home address _____________________________

_____________________________